Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Some corner of a foreign vegetable garden.



Last year I sowed a selection of wild flowers on Monty's grave at Haddock's. This year there's been plenty of vigorous growth, but only Poppies have appeared. Goodness knows what happened to all the other varieties.

I'm writing this because I've recently noticed what I imagine is a new pet cemetery quite near to us. It is a small walled area on a rocky hillside on the edge of a tiny medieval village, with two small graves, not unlike Monty's (see below). I quite expect some child insisted its father made a special cemetery for Tiddles, or Rover.


Monty's, and the two graves above (you'd have to enlarge the photo), are reminiscent of the Late Bronze to Late Iron age 'cists' that are the simplest form of graves; a plain circle of stones covering an actual burial pit.

As long as we remember our poor old departed companions; that's all that matters. I don't think Monty would have wanted a fancy mausoleum.



29 comments:

Susan Heather said...

We planted a pohutakawa on top of Kath so, hopefully, her grave will remain untouched.

Maria said...

I imagine Monty running through fields of poppies.
Greetings Maria x

Cro Magnon said...

Monty is quite deep down, so even if someone did want to cultivate where he lies, I don't think it would disturb him.

Cro Magnon said...

Bok has been chasing Deer this morning; he would have loved that too.

angryparsnip said...

What a lovely idea to spread the wildflower seeds on Monty's grave, I think the poppies are beautiful. Maybe the other seeds will bloom at different times ?
cheers, parsnip

Cro Magnon said...

I hope so too.

Yael said...

I remember Monty too.

Vera said...

We laid Boolie, our Springer Spaniel who died last year, in our woodland, and facing the house. He would have liked that.

Cro Magnon said...

He was a good old boy.

Cro Magnon said...

Monty was sent off with a few biscuits and his favourite toy.

Anonymous said...

That is so lovely, Cro.

As much as I hanker after a gravestone I wish for a woodland burial. I can see it now: It will be my last chance to embarrass myself. I have forewarned my son that he may well find that the tree or bush won't take, and wilt. Oh, Cro, can you imagine it? As a back up plan I told him to plant some dandelion; they are not fussy. Not so much dust to dust as weed to weed.

U

Cro Magnon said...

I have asked for a large lump of rock (with small engraved brass plaque), and a Fig Tree. I wonder if that's what I'll get?

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

A lovely memorial to your faithful friend Cro .... Monty will never be forgotten. XXXX

Cro Magnon said...

No; I've just come back from there.

Gwil W said...

Interesting about the flowers. I had a profusion of poppies in a particular area in an earlier garden but nothing else except maybe one or two corn flowers.
When I got round to doing some digging I discovered lots of bones. It turned out that somebody had buried a lot of dead chickens. Maybe poppies like bones. They also famously the only flower to survive the human slaughter on Flanders' fields.

Ninaschen said...

Poppies are a wonderful tribute to your Monty. They will mark his resting place for year after year after year. He was well loved. xx

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I was thinking about "Flanders' Fields" as well when I read your post. We have a grave site for our cat. My husband carved her name on a paving stone. Our other pets unfortunately died during the winter and burial on our property was not possible. -Jenn

Cro Magnon said...

I believe the seeds can survive for decades in the soil, then suddenly pop up again. No doubt mine will do so too.

Cro Magnon said...

They will probably be there for ever!

Cro Magnon said...

I heard that in parts of coldest Russia they have just a few weeks in 'Summer' when the ground is dig-able, otherwise all bodies just lie around outdoors in the ice.

New World said...

No, they are just the inebriated. They lie around everywhere

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

Poppies are spring flowers so maybe the others will pop up over the summer. What a loving monument to a dearly loved pet, Cro. You brought him into our lives through your blog and we were all sad when you lost him.

KK said...

This is exactly what Monty wanted.

Nothing fancy. Just a proper goodbye, and remembrance.

I am sure he is proudly looking at you right now, tail wagging and all

Frances said...

You and yours found a beautifully affectionate way to honor dear Monty.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I think Monty would love the poppies.

John Going Gently said...

We have aquilegia on Finlay's grave

Jennifer said...

I know you must still miss Monty terribly sometimes. I like to think of poppies blooming over his grave, though. How sweet. He was a good boy.

Cro Magnon said...

We still miss him, but never forget him.

Cro Magnon said...

I do hope so KK.

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